Skill development varsities to be established countrywide: NA told

ISLAMABAD:(APS)April 13, 2016-The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that universities for skill development will be established in Islamabad and at provincial capitals to produce a pool of skilled workforce.

Minister of State for Education Balighur Rehman told the House during question hour that the Prime Minister has given approval for the establishment of National University for Skill Development in the Federal Capital.

The Minister said the government has evolved National Technical Vocational Education and Training policy, which emphasizes on establishment of modern and state-of-the-art technical institutes.

He said a vocational secondary school has been established in Islamabad to impart technical education along with the general education. Under this initiative the target population is out of school children and this model will also be replicated in the provinces.

The Minister said that five state-of-the-art Centers of Excellence will also be established in each provincial headquarters which will offer demand driven training in different trades.

He said the government is providing additional funds to the technical institutes to enhance the ratio of technical education, which will also open job opportunities to our youth both at home and abroad.

He said under PM’s Youth Training Programme, fifty thousand youth will be trained in different areas this year.

Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah told the House that the government is considering a proposal to upgrade and revamp the rail track infrastructure from Karachi to Peshawar.

He said it will help raise the speed of passenger train upto 160 kilometer per hour.

Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha told the House that Radio Pakistan is broadcasting different programmes for the promotion of country’s art and culture. He said a number of agreements have also been signed for cultural exchange programmes with different countries to promote Pakistan’s rich and diverse culture internationally.

Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid informed the House that a ten-year flood protection plan has been prepared in consultation with the Ministry of Water and Power. He said 177.61 billion rupees will be spent during the next ten years for flood protection through structural and non-structural means.